Signal instrument



April 3, l1928.

1,664,933 G. KING SIGNAL INSTRUMENT Filed March l5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR George E /z'ny BY k vATTORNEY April 3, 1928.

1,664,933 G. E. KING SIGNAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TO Prin-fing [inuit 0f Time amp INVENToR. George E/ing ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED wsrirrE-s retains Parent orales.

GEORGE ERNEST KING, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB, TO THE GAMEWELL COMPANY, OF NEWTON UPPER FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MAS- SACHUSETTS.

SIGNAL INSTRUMENT.

Application led March 16, 1925. Serial No. 15,910.

This invention relates to instruments for recording telegraphic and other signa-ls upon a paper tape, and is particularly suited for embodiment in signal instruments employed in fire alarm, police telegraph and other emergency signaling systems.

A variety of types of signal instruments have heretofore been devised for use in situations presenting a corresponding variety of operating conditions, and, because no one type `of such prior signal instruments has been tound to be suited to all or any considerable lproportion of such diverse operating conditions, the custom has become prevalentY of manufacturing and using almost las many faricties of such instruments as there are di il'erent varieties of operating conditions. For example, signal instruments in lire houses in smaller communities, Where the circuits connecting tire house linstruments also include slow acting ,mechanism such as tower bell strikers and Whistle machines,

and the interpretation of alarms is likelyl to devolve upon volunteer firemen Who are untrained in the reading of signaling tapes, it has been found desirable to employ comiriaratively slo\v acting punch recorders which produce a record comprising com- ]piaratively large openings punched through a wide slow moving paper tape, notwithstanding the fact that such recorders are incapable of acting with sutlicient rapidity to render them suitable for, use in lire alarm systems in larger cities Where (because slow acting mechanism is not included in the circuits with lire house instruments) the formulation of tire house signals is at a rate from four to eight times as rapid as in some of the smaller communities. Then again there is the distinction between signaling systems such as those used for municipal iii-e alarm purposes Where there is, in effect, but one class of signals, and systems such as municipal police signaling and combined Watchman and fire alarm systems in which different classes of signals are differentiated, one from another, through the-utilization of code signals comprising circuit closures or circuit breaks ol differing time characteristics. Because of the limited character of the fields 'for the utilization of such a multiplicity ot types of signalinstruments, it has been found to be impracticable to manufacture any one type in suiiicientquantity to justify the adoption ot' production methods such as would bring about substantialV reductions in time consumed and cost Vincurred in manufacturing While greatly increasing the uniformity of the dependability and durability of the product Were like parts and instruments rendered available for all or a very large proportion of the various operating conditions.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a type of signal instrument the -constituent parts of which may be variously assembled and adjusted so that a single form of assembly of such parts will be suited for use in many practical operating conditions, and'so that not more than two or three forms of such assembly will cover practically all of such op-` erating conditions. i

The prior forms of signal instruments which were suited for uses such as just referred to, have embodied parts Whose construction and arrangement as to cooperative relationship have been such that intended operation thereof has tended to develop a condition of inoperability, of Whichcondition therewould be little it any indication discernible through ordinary observation and inspection, until such process of deterioration progressed to a degree resulting in suspension of operation of the instrument. For reasons Well understood by those skilled in this art, such suspensions-of operability are highly objectionable in the signal instruments of emergency 'signaling systems, and are likely to be the controlling factor in permitting the development of disasters involving extensive losses of life and property. i

It is7 therefore, a further general obiect of this invention to provide a signal instru- ,nentsuited to uses such as already referredv to having formation and arrangement of parts whereby deterioration due to operation will be greatly retarded, as compared with prior art instruments.

jSignal instruments suited for uses such as hereinbefore referred to, comprise paper feeding mechanism involving self-starting and self-stopping means Wlierebyvoperation of the feeding mechanism is initiated at the first stroke of each signal and is thereafter continued throughout the signal and until the expiration of a time, measured by the running of the mechanism, which time is usually longer than the longest interval between strokes or impulses of any signal. In prior art `instruments of this kind, such starting and stopping means has included a member (commonly termed a hopper) operable, by engagement with a part of the papel' feeding mechanism, for movement of such membertoward a position where it will `starting and stopping mechanism causes comparatively rapid deformation of the coengaging surfaces of such hoppers and the actuatingparts therefor, so that operative failures occur whereby the feedingr mechanism is not started when it should be (thus failing to cause movement of the paper such as will enablethe firststrokes of signals to be properly recorded), andso that the starting mechanism does not so act as to assure sufficient run of the feeding mechanism following every stroke of the signal (thus causing a misleading` record by fore-shortening representations of intervals between strokes within a signal because `of the stopping of the feed during suchintervals), or by failing to stop the paper feeding mechanism at the proper time, and thus not only wasting the paper tape but, incidentally, carrying the last signal so far from the register that--` under many operating conditions-the portion of the tape upon which the signal has been 'marked will be wound upon an automatic paper winder, or in some other Way, will pass beyond the range ofvision ofthe operator.

It is, therefore,` a specific object of this invention to provide automatic starting and stoppingl means for the paper feeding mechanism the cooperating parts of which will not be subjected to such rapid deterioration, and which will dependably operate fora long` period without adjustment, repair or renewal of parts. j

In the use of prior art signal instruments, it has been found that inequalities in the thickness of thepaper tape passing between the rollers of the feeding mechanism-such as sometimes result from the presence of lumps or foreign matter in the paper or from the folding under of the partially cut away tongues cut in the tape of certain forms of instruments-cause diversion in the direction of movement of the tape such that the edge of the tape is forced against the side of the guide in which it moves, thereby causing irregularity in the speed of tape travel and, in extreme cases, causing suspension of the operation of the paperfeeding mechanism, or whereby the tape is diverted from the patlr of either or both the marking mechanism and the feed rollers. l

It is, therefore, a further specific object of this invention to provide, in signal instruments of the character referred to, paper feeding mechanism such that the direction of tape travel will not be appreciably altered because of irregularities in the thickness of the paper tape or becauseofthe passage through such feeding mechanism of folded under tongues cut in such paper.

In the practical use of signal instruments such as hereinbefore referred to, the envi-` ronment is sometimes such that itis desirable that, following the last stroke of each signal, the movement of the paper tape be arrested soon after it has carried the record of the signal clear of the signal instrument, so that the entire record will be visible between the instrument and any automatic paper winding device which may be provided adjacent thereto for winding up the paper after it hasbeen delivered from the instrument and the signal has been read therefrom. In other environments, the signal instrument may be placed in a cabinet or be mounted adjacent to a so-called automatic time stamp or other mechanism, wherebyl the tape is shielded from vision for a substantial dista-nce beyond the signal 4 instrument; so that, in such cases, it is desirable that the movement of the tape shall not be arrested, following the last stroke of any signal, until the tape has traveled far enough to carry the signal outside of such cabinet or beyond such a time stamp or 4other instrument; It has thus become customaryto as- Y semble such signal instruments only upon a specific order designating the required` tape travel following last stroke of signal, as to do otherwise would necessitate taking down and reassembling stock instruments in order Vto convert those suited for one` class of service to another. `Such procedure not only incurs greatly increased cost of manufacture and assembly, rdue to inability to apply bulk production methods,-but also greatly dclays delivery of such instruments on orders.

Itis, therefore, a further specific object of this invention to provide signal Vinstriunents of the character hereinbefore referred to whose .feeding mechanism is arranged for adjustability of extent of paper feed after last strokes of signals. so as to provide for all variations in operating conditions withT out change ofparts or reassembly of the instrument.

As hereinbefore referred to, signal instruments ofthe character described are sometimes used in connection with paperwinding mechanism or so-called take-up reels, and circumstances of environment sometimes require that such winding mechanism shall be located in much closer proximity to the signal instrument than in other cases. Although it is almost invariably considered desirable that the openings cut in the paper tape of such instruments shall be as large as circumstances permit, it is obvious that in hose situations where a comparatively small length of tape may be exposed between the take-up mechanism and the signal instrument, the record of the signal should be condensed, in order that a complete signal may be exposed. In order to enable bulk production methods to be employed in the manufacture of such signal instruments and, at the same time, to enable them to be suited to varying conditions of maximum length of signals to be recorded and variations in length of expos-ed tape, it is necessary to supplement adjustability of extent of tape run after last stroke by facilities for readily adjusting speed of tape feed and the size of the mark produced rby the openings cut in the tape; so that when conditions make it necessary to reduce the speed of tape travel with relation to the speed of signal reception, in order to enable ent-ire signals to be visible between the signal instrument or the associted time stamp, if any) and the paper winding mechanism, the size of the opening in the tape may be readily altered so that the marks will be properly spaced notwithstanding such decrease in relativ-e tape speed; and so that when conditions permit a faster relative tape speed the sizes of the openings cut in the paper can be Acorrespondingly increased.

It is, therefore, a further specific object of this invention to provide, in signal instruments of the character described, a form of marking mechanism which will permit the size of marks to be altered, to compensate for changes in relative rate of tape travel, as just described.

In the use of signal instruments of the character hereinbefore referred to, conditions are frequently encountered in which it is necessary or highly desirable to provide circuit controllers operable in timed relation to the signals recorded thereby for the control of associated time stamps, hummers, emergency bells for police signaling systems and for combined night watch and fire alarm systems, and other similar purposes, as is well understood by those skilled in this art. Differing conditions of environment, such as have been referred to in connection with the foregoing objects, as well as different relationships between speed of paper feed and signaling speed, require the establishment of different relationships between the commencement and completion of recorded signals and the times at which various ones of such contacts shall become effeetive.

It is, therefore, a further specific object of this invention to provide an instrument of the character hereinbefore referred to having circuit controlling means adjustable throughout the scope of variations needed to meetservice conditions, without diversity of Aoriginal assembly and without taking down and reassembling instruments in order to suit them for changed operating condition.

Other objects are torender the Various parts lnore economical in production, more reliable in operation and more durable in service than corresponding parts of prior signal instrun'ients. Still other objects will be in part apparent as the description of this invention proceeds, and, in part, will be hereinafter more specilically referred to.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structurev and relation contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts through all of the views; of which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a signal instrument embodying this invention, portions of the side plate, base and other-'parts being shown broken away for the purpose of more clearly disclosing certain features of construction;

Fig. 2 shows alternative construction and arrangement of certain parts of the mechanism of the instrument of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the mechanism of the instrument of F ig. l., with the frame plates removed and parts broken away and omitted for the purpose of more clearly disclosing the operative relationships of the parts shown;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of certain of `the mechanism of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows the 'cooperative relationship between contact controlling mechanism and certain portions of the .mechanism of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 shows an alternative forni of one of the sets of the contacts of Fig. 5; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged detail views of certain of the parts shown by Fig. 3.

The signal instrument represented by the accompanying drawings is arranged for independent response to two circuits and comprises paper feeding mechanism involving the feed rollers 2l and 22 for propelling suitable tape, such as the papertape (see Fig. 1), together with marking mechanism involving they cutting tools 24k and 25 (see Fig. and controlling magnets 26 and 2T. Said. paper feeding' and marking mechanisms are driven by motor mechanism comiisl prising,` the inain driving gears 28 and 29, which are carried by the shaft 30. Oneof said main vgears is 'tilted upon said shaft and the other of said gears is arranged for rotation independently of said shaft and carries the drain 31. shown) is encloted in said drinn; one end of said spring` being' connected to said drum and the other end thereof beingV connected to said shaft.y so as to tend to rotate said gears 28 and 29 clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively, as indicated by the arrows shown in Fig. 8. Detailed arrangement of a inotor spring. suitablefor employment here. is shown b v .Patent No. 720.882, issued to H. lV. Doughty and C. E.' Beach and dated, May 5th` 1903. and is well understood by those skilled in this art, and will thereforenot be further described herein.

The pinions and fixed upon the sleeves 34 and are engaged by the `gears 28 and 29, respectively. and said sleeves are carried by the `shaft 85 for rotation independently thereof. rlhe `gears 87 and 38 are alsolixed upon the sleeves 3ft and 85, respectively, so as to be driven by the `ears 28 and 29 acting throngijh the pinions and 35i. respectively. The pinion 39 is engaged by the gear 87, and said i'iinioi'i, together with` the ratchet wheel 40 and ,gear 11 are carried by the shaft 4t2: said pinion and Vratchet wheel being' arranged to inove together and said near being' 1ange/d to inove indepeni'lently thereof and being` connected with said ratchetwheel by means of the dog,y L t3 so that said gear will be positively driven by the energy of the niain spring;` as applied to the pinion 39. The pinion 4A is driven by the gear 41. and the 4e'ear 45 inoves with said pinion. both of which are fixed upon the shaft 48, which shaft also carries and drives the feed roller 21. The rear 45 acts through the pinion 17 to drive the shaft 18 upon which is fixed anescapeinent wheel 49, a pair of eeeentrics 55 and 50 carried by the bosses 50, respectively, and a detent arm 51. The escapeinent wheel 419 is engagedby a. pallet 52 which is fixed upon the shaft 53. which shaft also carries the pendulum 511 which is adjustable for regulating' the speed of Arotation of said. wheel 49-and, hence, that of the feed roller 21. As best shown. by Fin'. il. the eecentrics 55 and 56 (which are carried by the bosses 50. respectively) are arranged in diainetiically opposite relationship and carry the pawls 57and 58, respectively. The ratchet wheel 59 is. fixed upon the shaft 00. and said wheel. is arranged for actuation in response to the alternate reciprocation of the pawls 57 and 58 incident to the rotation of the shaft 48. The detent lever G1 v is also hired upon the shaft 60, and arranged for cooperation with the arm 51 for the purpose of arresting rotation of the shaft 48 whenever said lever 61 is in a cer- A `inotor spring; (not` tain position. I It will be noted. that the ranged for engagingr the pawls57 and 58,re`

spectively, for the purpose of urging them toward the'wheel 59. LA spring 65 is so applied to said arin 62 as to urge movement of saine in such direction as will tend to carry the projections 03 and 64 in thedirection of the pawls 57 and 58. The extent of the eccentrieity of the .eccentrics 55 and 50 is so proportioned to the pitch of the wheel 59 that each vrcnfolution of the shaft 48 may cause rot-ation ofthe shaft 60 for an angular distance corresponding with that between adjacent teethof the wheel 59, and the height of the teeth of said wheel is Vso proportioned to the throw of said eccentrics that, due to the direction of rotation hereinb'efore just defined, the top of whichever one of the pawls 57 and 58 is at any time driving; the wheel 59 will be lifted 'byits actuating eccentric toa higher level than that of the one of said pawls Huch is at any such time being' withdrawn over an ade.

vaneingr tooth of said wheel. It will be observed that, asa result of this construction, the spring will act through the arin 62 to urge toward the wheel 59 whichever of the pawls 57 and. 58 should, at that time, act to inove said wheel, but Whichever paWl is, at any time, riding` over the back of a tooth of said wheel, will be permitted to inove in response to the liftingv action of such tooth without opposition from the spring 65 actingthrough the arin 62, thereby greatly decreasing,v the Wear of these parts incident to the operation of the mechanisin.

The pinion 95 is fixed upon theshaft 96 which has a squared end 97 (see Fig. for

cooperation with it winding ineinber, such as the handle 98 (see Fig. Y

Y The near 101 and boss 102 are fixed upon the shaft 103, and said gear is driven by the gear 38, acting though the pinion 104.

The pinion 105 is pivotallymounted upon the boss 102. and the gears 100 and 107 are carried by the shaft 103, for rotation independently thereof, and are situated at `respeetive sides of-said pinion 105 for cooperation therewith so as to provide, a differential drive. The escape wheels 108 and 109 rotate with the nears 106 and 107, being respectively connectedV therewith by said,

sleeves 110 and 111. The pallets 112 and 113 are so mounted that'an oscillatory Inotion will be imparted thereto by the rotaupon said shaft. Ylhe i rms 120 and 121 are also carried b y the p rtion of the shaft 118 which extends outside oit the trame ot the machine (a portion ot said shaft. beingk shown broken awayl in Fig. 3, in order to better disclose other part-s ot the mechanism which will be hereinafter referred to) and the cutting tools and 24 are secured to the tree ends ot said arms, respectively. The arm 120 is tixed upon the shaft 118, and theret'ore moves with the pallet 113; and the arm 121 is correspondingly arranged to move with the pallet 112, being operatively connected therewith through the bar 119, the arm 116 and the sleeve 114.

As bestshown in Fig. 8, it will be noted that the cutting tools 24 and are provided with elongated openings 20 :tor receiving the screws 19 provided tor attaching said tools to their respective arms. The length ot the openings 20 is such as to permit relative adjustment between said tools.

and their associated arms so that upon intended movement ot such arms, the cutting' portions ot said respective tools will be moved through the plane in which the tape is moved a greater or lesser distance for a purpose which will be hcreina'tter more tully explained. y

rlhe bell crank levers 122 and 123 are pivotally mounted upon the shatt- 124 'for independent movement, said lever 122 being connected through the link 125 with a downwardly extending portion ot the arm 116, and the lever 123 being corresponding-v ly connected withthe arm 117. f

The invertedvt/-shaped pins 126 and 127 are `carried at the tree ends oit the arms 122,and 12C of the bell crank levers 122 and 123, respectively, for a purpose which will be hereinatterr more 'fully explained;

and the stop pins 128 and 129 are mounted in the paths et said arms 1224 and-1.23, respectively. so as to limit the upward. movenient thereot'. rilhe arm 122 andlink 125 are so arranged as to provide a toggle action, and Ythe pin 128 is so positioned as to prevent the bell crank lever 122 being rotated in a clockwise direction tar enough to rar-e the tree end otthe arm 122 high enough to bring the centers oiC the points oi attachment ot the link 125 to said arm 122 and to the arm 116 into alignment with the a-Xis ot the shaft 124.

The length ot the link 125, and the arrangement kot the associated parts, is suc-h as to permit movement of the arm 116 incident to the passage of teeth of the wheel 108 under the upper end of the pallet 112, and such that the inception of the movement imparted to said arm 116 by the engagement ol the teethot said wheel 108 with the lower arm o1 said pallet 112 will cause the bell crank lever 122 to swing downwardly.

Inasmuch as the toggle connection between the lever 123 and the arm 117 corresponds with that between the lever 122 and the arm 116, as shown by Fig. 3 and just described herein, the toggle action connecting said lever 123 and said arm 117 is notvshown by the drawings, and will not be here further described.

The armatures 135 and 136 are mounted in cooperative relationship with the poles of the electromagnets 26 and 27, respectively, said arn'iatures being carried by the shaft 137, and arranged for independent movement. Retractile springs 138 and 139 are provided tor the armatures 135 and 136, respectively, and the upright arms 140 and 141 are arranged tor movement with said armatures, respectively, the upper end of each ot said arms being provided with a set ot pawls, said setso't pawls being arrangedl tor engagement with the pins v127 and 126, respectively. The relationship between said pawls and the pins 126 and 127 is such that they may serve to maintain the arms 122 and 123 adjacent their stop pinsA 128 and 129, respectively. Each set of saidpawls is so arranged that final release oit their respective associated pins may be caused to occur either upon attractive or retractive movement ot the armature by which it is" controlled, `and the general construction, ar-

rangement and operation ot said pawls is j analogous to that of corresponding mechanism which is disclosed in greater detail and fully described in my Patent No. 1,478,901, dated December 25th, 1923, to which reference is had. The construction and arrangement of the respective ones of suchl sets of pawls with relation to their cooperatingpins is such that each cycle of movement ot the armature 136 will permit a cycle of movement ot the pallet 112 by causing disengagement o1 the pin 126, and each cycle of movement ot the armature 135 will correspondingly permit acycle. of the movement ot the pallet 113. -From the foregoing, it will'be seen that the magnet 27, armature 136, arm

141, lever122 and associated yparts may be' tively, near the tree ends thereof, for a pur;-l

pose which iwilljbe hereinafter more fully explained.'

The arms 150 and 151 are fixed upon the shaft'152, and are situated `in the paths of thearms 116 and 117, respectively; and the `parts areyso relatively arranged that each cycle of movement of either the pallet 112 or pallet 113 Will cause the associated arm 116 or 117-as ithe rcase maybe-to act through the associated arm1150 or 151, respectively, to so elevate the arm 153 as to cause one end of the bar 154 to lift the paivls 57`and 58 out of engagement with the Wheel 59 and to bring the other end of said bar 154 to a position Where it may be retained by the latch 155; `The spring-156 so connects the arm 153 and the latch 155 as `to tend to `move the free end of said arm downwardly and so as to cause said latch to enf gage the bar 154.` Ancud 157 ot said latch 155 is so formed` as to project into the path of the arm 51 carried bythe shaft 48 when Vsaid latch is positioned for supporting the bar 154,-so thatthe rotation ot' said arm 51 `may cause disengagement of said latch from` saidbar 154. i l Y Aspringi66 isso applied to the sha-ft 60 as to tendto rotate saine incounter-clock- Wisedireetion, as' vieived in the drawing, and a `pin 67,\carried by the revoluble bushing 68 projects inthe path ofthe lever 61` for limiting the extent `of the rotation `ci' said shaft p6() in response to said spring 66.

`Saidbushing 68 extends through the frame plate 69 and carries a hnurled handle70, by meansiof which said bushing may be iotat ed for the purpose of4 increasing or decreas-` ing the extent of `permitted rotation ofthe shaft 60. A set screw 71 is provided for ree i taining the bushing 68 in the positions to Which it may be setby `means of the han` dle 470. y i

A guideplate 81 isprogvided for supporte ingthe paper tape upon which signals vare recorded, said plate being provided Ywith openings 82, 82-for receiving the cutting tools24and 25 and an opening 88 for the feedroller 21.1 L Y i The cutting tools 24 and 25 areso adjust edion `the freeends of their respective cari'A rier arms 121 "and 120, that, When'eith'er of said arms is in its normal fully elevated* position the point of the cutting tools carried thereby lvvill be spaced away from the plate 81 at least far enough to permit the passage ofpaper `tape therebetween; and each of said cutting toolsinay be set relative to its carrier arm atvarious greater distances from said plate 81., to the end that, upon the downward movement Viinpartedto said Vby the cutting tools 24 and 25.

arms incident to the rotation of the Wheels 108 and 109 with which they are respectively associated, said cutting tools may be i caused to penetrate such tape, and to enter the openings 82, 82 a Ygreater or lesser distance, to the end that the sizes oi the openings thus produced in the paper tape may i be varied for purposes hereinafter more fully explained.

A iiexible pressure piece 84 rests upon the upper surface of the plate 81, andv extends between the openings 82,82 therein, and can" ries at the free end thereof a T-bar 85 Which extends between said openings and the feed roller for purposes which will be hereinafter more Vfully explained.`

The feed rollers 22,22 are pivotally at tached to the respect-ive sides of the pressure bar 86 which is pivoted at 87 and carries a flat spring 88 for urging saine toward the roller 21.` As best shown in Fig. 7 the opening through the bar 86 for the pivot 87 is relieved toward both sides of said bar, so as to permit said bar to rock relatively to said pivot,\on an axis substantially perpendicular to that oi' `the roller 21, to such eX- tent as to enable the rollers 22, 22 to assume various relationships With the i'oller 21 and thereby compensate for irregularities in thickness of the paper tape passing over` the" roller 21, especially such. as result from the folding under of tongues cut in the paper vided for lifting the bar 86 so as to facilitate insertion or removal of paper tape.

I :Releas-V ing means comprising the cani 89 is proluc Vil() The insulating block 72 Vis inountedad-V` jacent to the shaft 60 and carries three sets of `normally separated contacts as generally i indicated at 73, 74and 75, respectively. An`

arm i 76, which is frictionally secured to the shaft 60 by means of the clamping' screw 77, carries an insulating rod 7 8 for actuating the contacts 7 3V and 74; the parte being so arranged that said contacts may be closed by said rod during the clockwise rot-ation of the shaft 60, and preferably so that,'after the contacts are so closed, further clockwise rotation of said shaft will permit them to again open.` Such contacts may be variously utilized, to suit ldiffering service conditions; the utilization suggestively indicated by Fig.

. 5 involving the'employment of the contact 73 for control ot ahiunmer and involving the employment of the4 contact 74 Vfor the control of the printingcircuit of such time1 stamp as may be associated with the register. lf `it is. desiredto provide normally open contacts for the cont-rol of a bell or lamp to give Warning Wheneverthe register is acting in response to a signal, or for the purpose of shunting out a routine signaling in a manner analogous to that shown by A Patent No. 1,274,367, issued to C. E. Beach and dated August 6th, 1918; andV Which '5 it occupies when the detent lever 61 is disposed in the path of the detent arm 51, said rod 7 8 will hold the contacts 7 9 apart; and so that, when the lever 61 has moved out of the pat-h of the arm 51, said rod 7 8 Will a be Withdrawn from the path of the contacts 79 and will therefore permit said contacts to close. inasmuch as-,the purposes and manner of utilizing contacts controlled by the starting' and stopping mechanism of signal instruments is well understood by those skilled in this art, it will not be further herein described. Y

A so-called creeper attachment is provided for controlling the contacts for purposes which will be hereinafter more fully described. This attachment comprises a flexible arm 161, one end of which is attached to the frame plate at 162 and the other end of which is provided with an ear 163 to which a sector 164 is pivotally attached, as shown in Fig. 1 (analogous parts bearing similar reference characters being somewhat more clearly shown in Fig. 2). Aspring 165 is so applied to the sector 164 as to tend to swing same to the right, as viewed in the drawing, and a set screw 166 is carried by the arm 161 in such position as to serve as an adjustable stop for limiting the extent of the movement imparted to said sector by said spring.

An insulating projection 167 is carried by the sector 164, and said projection is so formed that it may be brought into actuating engagement with the contacts 75, by movement of said sector against the tendency of the spring 165. v v

The sector 164 is so situated that the periphery thereof may be broughtl into contact with a. part moving with vthe paper feeding mechanism, the direction of movement of which part is such as to tend to so move said' sector to bring the projection 167 into engagement with the contacts 75. In the interests of clearness of disclosure, the sector 1.64 of Fig. 1 is shown positioned over the paper tape 23, so as to be operable thereby when the arm 161 is depressed in a manner hereinafter more fully explained. For classes of services in which it is desirable that the creeper attachment shall function irrespective of the continuity of paper tape, such as the tape 23, it is preferable that the sector 164 shall be mounted in cooperative relation with some part of the paper feeding train, such, for example, as the feed roller 21, as indicated in Fig. '2.

The arms 168, 169 and 17 0 are carried by the shaft 171, to which they are detachably secured, as byv means of the Cotter pin 172 shown in the boss of the arm 170. rEhe free end of the arm 16S carries a pin`173 which is positioned for engagement with an adjustable anvil-screw 174 caried by the arm 161 intermediate the ends thereof. The arms 169 and 170 are so formed and positioned for such cooperative relationship with the projections 149 and 148, respectively, that movement of either the arinature 136 or 1,35 from normal to abnormal position will cause rotation of the shaft 171 such as to cause the pin 17?) to act through the screw 174 to move the arm 161 to the position which will Y canse actuation of the sector 164 against the tendency of the spring 165. For example, when the parts are arranged for normal energization of the electromagnets (as indicated by Figs. 1 and 3) the arms 169 and 17 O are so formed that movement either of the projection 148 or the projection 149 will cause such depression of the arm 161 as to bring the sector 164 into engagement with the part by which it may be moved, against the tension of the spring 165. lVhen the instrument is adjusted for control by normally open Circuits, he parts are arranged as indicated by Figy, the arms 169 and` 170 being interchanged so that the attraction instead of the retractionof either arn'iature will cause depression of the arm 161 or 161', as the case may be. v

It will be noted that the shaft 171 is the saine diameter throughout its length, so that it may be moved endivise through the openings provided therefor inthe frame plates and` thereby Vfacilitate interchanging of the arms 169 and 170, without otherwise taking the instrument apart and reassembling it.

A signal instrument embodying parts such as hereinbeffore described in greaterdetail` and arranged asindicated by Figs. 1 and 3, will be suited for response to circuits which are normally closed and to which significant response should be made by thek recording instrument upon the occasion of each break in the continuity thereof. If it is desired to convert an instrument assembled as just described, so as to` suit same for response to circuits which arenorinally Opern-the positions of the arms 169'and 170 upon the shaft 171 should be changed, hereinbefore ust explained, and the aawls carried by the free ends of the arms 140 and 141 should be cor-- respondingly changed in position as more fully explained in my Patent No. 1,478,901', dated December 25th, 1923. It will be understood that in the event that the emergency signal contacts 75 Will not be required, under the operative conditions in which the llt) skilled in this art.

instrument is to be employed, it will be unsignals is deemed more importantfthan compactness ot suChreCordS, the cutting tools 24 and 25 should be moved downwardly, relative to their respective supporting arnis 121 and 120, as 'far as may be without bringing the points of said tools into the path of paper .tape passing between the pressure piece 84 and the guide p late 81, and such tools should then be secured in position by means of the attachment screws 19V provided therefor. The pendulum 54 should be adjusted with relation to the speed of signal formulation in the circuit to which `the in strument is to respond so as to space the markings produced upon the tape by the instrument in a manner which will facilitate reading thereof; to'this end, the pendulum 54 shown may be removed from the shaft 58, and a similar pendulum either lighter or heavier than that shown may be substituted ,'tlierefoi, without otherwise taking down and reassembling the mechanism ot the instrument. Ordinary speed adjustments may be ei'ected without such exchange of pendulums, in a manner well understood by those The bperation ol signal instruments such `as hereinbetore described, is as follows:

Assuming that the main spring has been Wound as by the use of the winding handle 98, that suitable tape 23 is in position on the n guide plate 181 and is gripped between the vimparted to said lever by by the arm 122 rollers 21 and 22, and that the windings ot the electroniiagnets `26 and 27 are connected in the desired signaling circuits,-while such circuits remain closed, the parts will be at rest, relatively positioned as indicated in Figs. 1 and 8. It, while the parts are so positioned, the magnet 27 becomes deenergized,-thespring 139 will so swing the arm 141 as to carry the armature 136 away from' said magnet and so as to cause the pawls carried by saidarm to release the pin 126 and thereby A,permit the bell vcrank lever 122 to move in a counter-clockwise direction. Said lever 122 will thereupon so move, in response to gravity supplemented by the tendency the thrust applied to the lower end ot the pallet 112 by the wheel 108, so as to break the toggle formed of said, lever in cooperation with the `link 125, and thereby permit said wheel 108to act through said pallet 112, said arm 116 and the bar 119, to cause the arm 121 to force the cutting' tool 24 to penetrate the papertape 23 and enter one of the openings 82 and thereby form a tongue in said paper which will be inclined rdownwardly, as morer'ully explained in Patent No. 938,285, dated Oct. 26th, 1909. After the toolv 24 has been thus caused to penetrate the tape, continued rotation of the escape wheel 108 will cause same toact against the upper end of the pallet 112, so as to rock the arm 116v and parts moving therewith to a position which willcarry the tool 24 and the pin 126 somewhat higher above the tape 23 and the pawls carried by the upper endet the arm 141, respectively, than the positions normally occupied by these parts. Such and said pallet 112, the escape wheel 108,`

and theV parts moving therewith, will theretore be brought Vto rest. It should be noted that, when the. escape wheel 108 is brought to rest, as just described, the pallet 112 is so positioned as to ,be operable'by said escape wheelv at least advantage, Vthereby minimizing the frictional resistance to movement of the pawls carried by the arm 141 resultant `:from the support thereby of the pin 126.

The initial movement of the arm 116, incident to the cycle of action of the pallet 112 as just described, will cause said arm to act through the arm 150, shaft 152, arm 153 and bar 154 to lift the pawls 57 and 5S out otthe patlrot the teeth of the wheel 59; whereupon said wheel will be rotated by the spring 66, so as to carry the detent lever G1 out of the path of the detent arm 51 and thereby release Vthe paper feeding train.

When the bar V154 is raised, asy just described, so as to litt the pawls 57 and 58 out of the path of the teeth ol' the wheel 59, the

orf

latch 155 is moved .by the spring 156 so as to retain'said bar 1n such raised position;

thereby preventing reengagement of said pawls with said teethwhen the arm 116 has returned to its normal position.`

Upon releasel of the paper feeding train, as just described, said train will commence operation inresponse to driving force appliedv by the gear 28, whereupon the rotation ot the shaft 46 will cause the roller 21 to drive the paper tape 28 and the'rotation of the shaft 48 will cause the eccentrics 55 and 56 to impart a reciprocatingmovement to the pawls 57 and 58, respectively; but, because` of thesupporting action of the bar 154, such movement of said pawls will not cause actuation of the wheel 59. The movement of the tape 23 incident tothe rotation of the roller 21 will bring the tongue just previously formed in said tape by the tool 24, against the front wal-l of the opening. 82 which, is situated below saidl tool, whereupon the further movement of said tape will;

It will be noted that, during the operationv of the mechanism vthus far described, the pressure piece 84k will have served two purpose.s-f`irst, to prevent the paper tape being lifted following penet ation theret-hrough of the cutting tool 24C when said tool is withdrawn therefrom, without necessitating the lifting of said tool as far above said tape as would otherwisebe necessary to assure this result, and', second, that of preventing the tape being, lifted an unnecessary distance from the plate 81 by the foldedfover tongue formed therein, when said tongue is brought against the plate 81 at the yfront facey of the opening 82 into which iti was.y turned. The holding of the paper tape in close proximity to the plate 81, while said tongue. is passing between the opening 82 andthe roller 21, also serves to prevent the tools 2l and 25from dragging upon said` tape, or catching therein should either of these tools then penetrate the tape, and also facilitates the passage of suchtongue between the feed rollers 21 and 22 with aV minimum, of tendency toward diverting the di-` i'ection. of movement of said tape.

During the passage just referred to of :auch tongue portion of the tape `23, the one of` the feed rollers 22, 22 which is nearest the frame plate of the machine will be moved somewhat farther' from the feed, roller 21 than the other one of said feed rollers 22; such relative movement between said feed rollers avoids objectionable diversion of the direction of tape movement and is permitted by the formation ofthe portion of the pressure bar 86 which engages the pivot 87, as best shown in Fig. 7 and as hereinbefore more fully explained.

From` the foregoing it will be apparent that successive cycles of energization and deenergization of the magnet 27 will cause corresponding repetitions of the cycle of aeten of they pallet 112, the cutting tool 2l and the parts moving therewith; and that corresponding cycles of deenergization and eiiei'gization of the electromagnet 2G will. cause corresponding cycles of action of the pallet 113, the cutting tool 25 and the parts moving therewith, to the end that one openu ing will be cut in the paper tape for each cycle of deener-gization and energization of respective ones of said magnets, the relative intervals or spaces between which openings will substantially correspond with the intervals of time which elapse between the deenergization of the said magnet.

During the running ofthe paper feeding train hereinbefoie described, each revolution of the shaft 418 will carry the detent arin 51 into engagement with the end 1'57 of the latch 155, and will thereby cause saidy latch to release the bar 15a. With the arrangement shown, it has been found that, during the formulation of usual signals, the pawls r" KO- i- A i .it ant do aie almost continuously held out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel 59,r (with the possible exceptiony of pauses be-v tween so-ealled rounds of a signal) the conclusion` of the signal.

Following the completion of the recording of a signal by the mechanism shown, as just described, effective actuation of the ratchet wheel 59 by the pawls ,57' and 58 will be assured by the fact that, during each rotation thereof, the arm 51 will act to cause disengagement of thelatchv 155 from-the bar 157i, whereupon the spring 156 willy cause the arm 15B to swing to a position which will withdraw the support of the bar 154 from said pawl. When the support of the bar 15st is withdrawn from saidpawls, as just described, the spring 65, acting through the arm 52, will swing said' pawls toward the wheely 59, and will bring` into engagement of the teeth of. said wheels whichever one of said pawls is, at the time, positioned for movement in the direction suited for effectively engagng the teeth of said. wheel. Assuming, for example, that thel eccentrica and. 55 are positioned substantially as indicated by Fig. 4 at a. time when the pawlls 57 and 58 are ino-vedinto engagement withv the teeth ofthe wheel 59, as just describcd,-` the spring G5 will. act through the proj ect on 641- to urge the pawl 58 into the path of one ofthe teeth of the wheel 59 and the pawl 5.7 will rest upon the point of one of the teeth of said wheel. Although the end of the pawl 57 which rests upon the wheel 59 would be thus held higher than the corresponding end of the pawl 548, the opposite ends of said pawls would be so positioned by the eccentrics -55 and 5G that t-he pawl 58 would act through the projection. 64 to pren vent the arin 62. from bringing the projection 68 into engagement with the pawl 57. lt is evidentthat when the parts are positioned as just described, clocliwise rotation of the shaft 48 will first so relativelyposition the pawls 57 and. 58 andthe wheel 59 asto'perinit said pawl 57 to drop to the left of the tooth upon which it has been i-iding (as viewed in Fig. l), andthat continue(` rotation of said shaft will thereafter so elevate the portion of said Vpawl wlhich may copeiate with the projection 63 that the force of the spring will be applied through the until arni 62 for the purpose of retaining such engagement by said pawl 57. Thereafter, continued rotation of the shaftflS will cause rotation ofv the@ wheel 59 for an angular distance somewhat in excessof that between adjacent teeth thereof, the pawl 58 being withdrawal thereof from the path of said During step by step actuation of the wheel 59, as just described, should either the pin 126 or the pin 127 be disengaged byits cooperating pawls.y the resultant action of the marking mechanism will cause the pawls 57 and to be withdrawn from the path of the` teeth of the wheel 59, whereupon said wheel and the parts moving therewithwill again be rotated in response to the spring 66, all ashereinbefore more fully described.

It will be noted that whenever the bar 154 `withdraws the "pawls 57` and 58 fronrthe path of the wheel 59, said pawls are 'lifted and held clear of said teeth until there has been ample opportunity for said wheel and the parts moving therewith vto come to rest following rapid movement thereof' (suoli as is necessary in an instrument of this character.) and also giving opportunity for the Y subsidence ofthe chattering which usually follows Ythe sudden interruption of rapid movement of such a part, thus avoiding the rapidity `of destruction of cooperating surfaces which has occurred vin `so-called .hopper mechanism heretofore employed in l automatic starting and stopping mechanism for paper feeding trains, especially in high speed instruments whereI the time of hopper disengagement has exceeded that required for hopper restoration by little, if any, margin.`

1f the marking mechanism remains at rest, during actuation'of the wheel 59 as just described, the cumulative steps imparted thereto by the pawls 57 and V58 will finally carry the lever 6l into the path of the arm 5l and thereby arrest the running of the paper feeding train; thus restoring all of the parts of the mechanism to their normal position.`

If the signal record produced by operation, such as that ust described, occupies an `objectionablyfgreat space upon the' paper tape, this condition can be remedied by changing the adjustment of the pendulum 54: so as to retard the movement of the paper `tape and, if necessary, raising thecutting `tools 24 and 25 so thatnotwithstandi`ng the retarded speed of the paper feed, the

Y marks produced will be suitably spaced. lf,

ontheother hand, there is no occasion for minimizing the space'` occupied uponv the to facilitate the reading of signals transmitted at the intended speed, this can be accomplished by adjustment of the pendu-` lum i Having completed adjustment ofthe speed of ymovement of the paper tape, as just described, the set screwr7l should be loosened, and `the` handle should be lso` adjusted that, with the speed of tape movement' already established, tlie paper feeding mechanism will run, following any action ofthe marking mechanism, for a time longer than the longest interval between the strokes of any signal, and so that the opening; throughV the paper tape which represents the last,"

stroke ofeach signal will be carriedfclear of the signal instrument, as well as of `any associated timestamp or vother objects which might obstruct the view of the tape as delivered from this instrument. lVhen the handle 70 has been correctly 'positioned7 as just indicated, the `setscrew 7l should be tightened so as to retain said handle insuch position. 1. n i j Referring now to the contacts shown` by F ig. 5, it will be evident that the contacts 78 and 74E `will be closed by the insulating rod 7 8 during the clockwise movement imparted to the wheel59 bythe. pawlsr57 and 58 and, that the point in` the movement of said wheel at which said contacts Awill be closed can be variously fixed by loosening the screw 77 and rotating the arm 76 relatively to the shaft 60. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that, if it is desired to provide means for independently adjusting the relationshipbetween the effective actuation ofvcontacts such as the contacts 73,711.01' 79 and the movement of the wheel 59, such independent adjustability may be obtainedv by the provision of a desired number of arms, such as the arm 7 6,

each separately adjustable relatively to the shaft 60, and each carrying an insulating rod 78 arranged for cooperation with Ya desired set or sets of contacts.

If the instrument employed in connection with a signaling system having signals of two or more classes, one of which. classes is characterized by a change in circuit condition `of longer duration than corresp'oiiifling changes in circuit condition incident te signals of another class, if it is desired to arrange contacts such as the contacts or' 7 5f for response to such characterizing current changes-the arms i69and 17 O should cupies the position which it assumes during s such characte yfizing circuit change; the

anvily screw 174 should thereupon beadjustedy so that, whenever either said arm 1410 or said arm 141 assumes such characterizing position, the sectory 164 Will be brought into engagement with the part moving withl the paper feeding train with which it may. cooperate, and the set screw 166 should be so adjusted that when the sector 1611 is resting against said screw, the movement of said f sector necessary to bring the'insulating projcction 167 into engagement with the contacts and 75 (as the case may be) will be less than that which would be imparted to said sector by the running of the paper feeding train during such characterizing circuit conditionings and greater than that which Would be imparted by. similar circuit conditionings of shorter duration. Assuming adjustment of contacts such the contacts 73, 74, 75 and 79, as just described in detail, it is evident that, upon the initial actuation of either the cutting tool 2li or the cutting tool 25, as hereinbefore described in greater detail, the resultant counter-clockwise movement of the Wheel 59 and parts moving therewith will permit closure of the Contact 79, and will also cause momentary closure ofthe contacts 73 and 7 4t. Such closure of the contact 79.\vill be suited for causing lighting ofv a pilot lamp, or other desired indication, to give' Warning of the fact that the register is in action; but the closure of the contacts 73 andy 74ey Will be of insu'flicient duration to cause significant response of such devices as may be controlled thereby. If the recorded signal involves a change in circuit condition of duration such that the movement imparted to the sector 164 by the tape 23 or roller 21' (as the case may be) causes said sector to actthrough the insulating projection 167` to close the contacts 75 or 75 (as the case may be) any emergency signals controlled by said con factsI will thereupon be caused to' act, to give notice that the signal thenv being recorded by this instrument is of more than routine nature and therefore requires immediate attention.

After the conclusion of the signal. the comparatively slow clockwise movement i1n parted to the Wheel 59 by the paivls 57 and 58, Will act `through the insulating rody 78 to cause closure of the contacts 73 and 7 4J, so that the printing circuit of an associate timestamp may have effective andtimely energization to the end that the time of re' ceipt of the signal may be imprinted upon the paper tape, and a so-called hummer or other arrangement may be set mto action for providing a' so-called answer-back4 or acknowledgement. of receipt to the person who. caused the transmission of the signal recorded by this instrument.

If it is desired to assemble a signal instrument pursuant to this invention, which would be responsive to but one signaling circuit,-this can be variously accomplished by omission of parts. For example, a portion of the marking mechanism comprising the escape Wheel 108, the cutting tool Qd, and the electromagnet 27 may be omitted; the escape wheel 109 being, in such event, ar-

anged to move with the gear 101, and the parts 102, 105, 106 and 107 being also omitted'` i If it is desiredto provide an instrun'lent arranged pursuant to this invention'for response to more than two signaling circuits, this can be donc by various methods, as will be Well understood by those skilled in this art Without further description lierein,- such, for example, as the provision of supplemental sources of driving' energy or the further subdivision of theV sourceV here shown, in a manner such, for example, as that indicated by Patent No. 646,013, dated March 27th, 1900. y

While I have shown and described in considerable detail one specific embodiment of my invention, it should be understood 'that this is 'illustrative only, and for the purpose 0f making clear the nature and objects of my invention, and that various features .of tliis invention may be used" separately from the others or in combinations including less than all of such features, and that I' do not regardr the. .invention as limited` to these details, nor to any of them, except in so far as such-limitations are included Within the terms of the following claims,4 in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent to my invention as broadly as is permissible in vievv of the vprior art.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-ot the United States of America is: l

1. A signal instrument having tape marking and 'feeding` means together With motor driving mechanism for said, marking and feeding means and 4automatic starting and stoppingmechanism for said feeding incanta-in which said marking means comprises a plurality of independently operable mechanisms each involving an escape Wheel, a pallet operable by andS controlling the movement of said ivheel, a marker operable by oscillation of said.v pallet andvmeans for controlling suoli oscillation; said feeding means comprises a tape .feedY train; said motor mechanism comprises means for applying energy,from a single source, independently to each vof said marking mechanisms and to said feed train; and saidst-artfing and stopping mechanism comprises a detent lever movable in one direction to arrest the runlil-0 ning of said train, a spring urging movement of said lever in the opposite direction, a ratchet Wheel moving with said lever, eccentrics operable by the running of said train, paivls arranged for alternate reciprocation by said eccentrics and for cooperationE With said ratchet `Wheel to cause rotation thereof such as will move said lever into effective position, means responsive `to operation of any one or more of said marking mechanisms for moving said paWls out of the path of said Wheel, holding means for at times pre-venting movement of said paivls into engagement with said wheel, and means operable by the running of said train for terminating theV effectiven is of said holding means.

2. A signal instrument .having tape marking and feeding meansV together `with motor driving mechanismfor said markingand feeding means and automatic starting and stopping mechanism for said feeding meansrin which said marking means comprises a plurality of independently operable mechanisms each involving an escape Wheel, a pallet operable by and controlling the movement ofisaid Wheel, a marker operable by oscillation of said pallet and means for controlling such oscillation; `said feeding means comprisesa tape feed train; said motor mechanism comprises means for applying energy, from a single source, independently to cach of said marking mechanisms and to said feed train; and said starting and stopping' mechanism -comprises av detent lever movable-inVV one direction to arrest `the running of said train, a springurging movement of said lever in the opposite direction, a ratchet Wheel moving With said lever, eccentrics operable by the ruiming of said train, paivls arranged for alternate reciprocation by said eccentrics and for cooperation with said ratchet Wheel to cause rotation thereof such as will movesaid lever into effective position, and means responsive to operation of any one or moreof said marking mechanisms formoving said paivls out of the path of said Wheel. i

' -3. A signal instrumentcomprising a motor spring,V differential gearing through which the torque from one of the ends-of said motor spring is subdivided.A and a plurality of independently controlled marking mechanisms and a tape feeding train each independently `operable by the torque of said motor spring as delivered by respective/omis thereof andas subdivided by said gearing..

4. `A, signal instrument` having motor driven tape marking and feeding means,

together with automatic starting and stop-- ping mechanism for said feeding 1neans,- in lwhich said marking means comprises mechanism involving an escape Wheel, a pallet operable by and controlling the move- Vment of ,said Wheel, a marker operable by oscillation ofwsaidpallet and means for Lessons controlling suoli oscillation; said feeding means comprises a tape feed train; and said starting and stopping m'echanisnrcomprises detent structure having a toothed portion, arranged to arrest the running of. said train when actuated in one direction and to which a tendency is imparted for actuation in the opposite direction, eccentrics operable by thev running of said train, pawls arranged for alternate rcciprocation by said eccentrics and for cooperation with the teeth of said structure to cause actuation thereof in said first named direction, andaneans.responsive to operation of said marking mechanism for moving said paivls out of the patlrof the toothed portion of said structure. Y

i l5. A signal instrument having tape marking mechanism comprising an escape Wheel, a pallet operable by and controlling the` movement of said Wheel, a marker4 operable by oscillation of said pallet and means for controlling suchoscillation, said means involving a `toggle arranged for straightening thereof by andl during the oscillation of said pallet and for acting When straightened, to arrest such oscillation at a stageV thereof when said pallet is so positioned as to be operable by said escape Wheel atleast advantage.

G. A signal instrument having? a tape marking mechanism comprising an escape Wheel, a palletoperable by and controlling the movement of saidvvheel, a marker'opergetherivith automatic starting and stopping mechanism for said feedingV meansfi-in which said feeding means comprises a tape feed train, and said startingand stopping mechanism comprises detent structure having a toothed portion,`arranged to arrest the running of said train when actuated in one directionandto which a tendency is imparted for actuation `in the opposite direction, ecccntrics` operable bythe running of said train, pawls arranged for alternate reciprocation by said eccentrics and for cooperation with the teeth of saidstructure to cause' actuation dthereof `in said first named direction, Vandmeans responsive to operation of said marking mechanism for moving said pawls out of the path of theitoothed iportion of said structure.

9. A signal instrument having altu'ne trainV With associated automatic starting and stopping mechanism comprising detent structure having a toothed portion, arranged to arrest the running of said train when actuated in one direction and to which a tendency is imparted for actuation in the opposite direction, eccentrics operable by the running of said train, pawls arranged for alternate reciprocation by said eccentrics and for cooperation With the teeth of said structure to cause actuation thereof in said irst named direction, means whereby said pavvls may be moved out of the path of the toothed portion of said structure, and means for varying the extent of the permitted actuation of said structure in said second named direction.

10. A signal kinstrument having a time train with associated automatic Vstarting and stopping mechanism comprising detent structure having a toothed portion, arranged to arrestl the running of said trainv When actuated in one direction and to which a tendency is imparted for actuation in the opposite direction, eccentrics operable by the running of said train, pawls arranged for alternate reciprocation by said eccentrics and for cooperation with the teeth of said structure to cause actuation thereofin said first named direction, means whereby said pawls may be moved out of the path ofthe toothed portion of said structure, holding means for at times preventing movement of said .pawls into engagement with said toothed portion, and means operable by the ruiming of said train for terminating the effectiveness of said holding means.

l1. A signal instrument having a time train with associated automatic start-ingV and stopping mechanism comprising detentstructure having a toothed portion, arranged to arrest the Vrunning of said train lwhen ,actuated in one direction and to which a tendency isimparted for actuation in the oppov f train with associated automatic starting and stopping mechanism comprising detent structure having a toothed portion, arranged to arrest the ruiming of said train When actuated in one direction and to Which a tendency is imparted for actuation in the opposite direction, eccentrics operable by the lrunning of said train, pawls arranged for `alternate reciprocation by said eccentrics and for cooperation Withthe-teeth of said structure to cause actuation thereof invv said first named direction, means whereby said paWls may be moved out of the 'path' of the toothed portion of said structure, and aspring for urgingwmovement ofV said pavvls toward said structure, the direction of rotation of said eccentrics and the manner of the application of said lspring to said paWls such that at given times said spring Will be applied only to such one of the pawls as is then positioned for actuationto move said structure.

'13. A signal instrument having a time train with associated automatic starting and stopping mechanism comprising detent struc-v tureha'ving a toothed portion, arranged to arrest the running of said train when actuated in one direction and to whicha tendency is imparted for actuation in the oppoite direction, eccentrics operable by the runningvof said train, paWls arranged for alternate reciprocation vby said eccentrics and for cooperation with the teeth of said structure to cause actuationthereof in said first named direction, and means whereby said -pavvls may be moved out of the path of the'toothed portion of saidstru'cture. Y

14. A signal instrumentlhaving-a movable toothed member, a pair of diametrically opposite eccentrics, pawls 4arranged for alternate-reciprocation by said eccentrics and for cooperation with 'the teethiof sai-d member to cause actuation thereof, and apotentially active means for urging movement of said paWls toward said member, the direction of rotation of said eccentrics and the manner of the application of said means to 'said pawls such Athatatgiven times said means will be applied only to such oneof the pawls as is then positioned r'for actuation to move said member.

, 15. vA signal instrument having means `for propelling a tape and marking mechanism `adapted for forming tongues in such va tape, in combination with guide structure situated adjacentto the path of intended movement of such tape away from said marking mechanism, a Wall of such structure being so situated as to be disposed in the path of tongues formed in such tape by vsaid markying mechanism, and a pressure piece yresiliently urged toward said structureand yhaving a Wall thereof substantially in alignment with said wall of said structure and so disposed that such intended tape movement will cause tongues formed in such tapeto pass between said Walls.

`16. A signal instrument having means .Wherebya tape may be caused yto move in a predetermined plane and mechanism for marking such tape, said -mechanism comprising a cutting tool and operating means therefor, involving construction for moving said tool to' and through such -plane and whereby the extent of the movement of said tool through and beyond such plane may be variously adjusted.

lIU

A 17. A signal instrument having marking mechanism operable'to form tongues in a papertape and tape feeding means comprising Vfeed rollers one of which is arranged for rotation around a fixedaxis and othersof which are so supported as to be adapted for independent rotation around axes substantially parallel to and movable toward and away from said lined axis, involving construction and arrangement whereby individual ones of sai-d last named rollers may be so differently `spaced from said iirst named rollers as to assure substantial uniformity in direction of tape travel resultanti'roin the rotation of said iirst named rollerirrespective of travel between said rollers of portions of such a tape carrying such tongues folded thereunder. y e e i 18. In a signal instrument having mechanism operable in response to respective signal impulses and a train arranged for operation at a predetermined speech-starting and stopping mechanism arranged to arrest the running of sai-d train only when in normal condition, in combination with contacts so associated with said starting and stopping mechanism as to be abnormally positioned du 1ing restoration thereof, and means for variously Xing the point during such restoration at which said abnormal positioning` willoccur. 0 e i 19. In a signal instrument having a time controlled'inechanism and a plurality of independently s operable signal meChanisma--circuit controlling means involving operating mechanism comprising a sector-lilrepiece the periphery of which is suitedfor so engaging a part moving with said time controlled mechanism. as to be moved therewith, a resilient flexible arm to which said piece is pivotally attached, said arm arranged to yieldingly resist movement thereof in such directionas would carrysaid piece 4to a position where it may be rotated in one direction by engagement of the periphery thereof with said time controlled part, a spring for rotating said piece in the opposite direction, means for varying the extent oi the rotation of said piece in said second named direction, means for abnormally conditioning an electric circuit by rotation of sai-d piece in A,opposition to said spring to a predetermined position, mechanism comprising means arranged for actuation "by any one l ot saidindependently operable mechanisms for applying to said arm', at a o point susceptible of movement independently of the pivotal connection thereto of said piece, a tendency for movement of said arm such as will carryV said `piece toward the aforesaid 'time controlled part, and means for varying the extent ofthe movement which may be imparted to said arm by said means. a

20. In a signal instrument having a time responsive l instaat' controlled mechanism and a signal responsive mechanism`,-circuit controlling `meaiis involving operating mechanism comprising a predeterminedposition, and mechanism comprising means arranged for actuation by said signal responsive mechanism for applying to said arm, at a'point susceptible ot movement independently of the. pivotal connection thereto of said piece, a tendencyfor movement of said arm such as will carry said piece toward the aforesaid time con'-V trolled part. A

CTI

Y 21. In a signalinstrument having atiine a controlled mechanism and a plurality ot' independently operable mechanisms each involving a controlling electromagnet` and a part moving in response to eiiergization and de'energization tliereof,-circ`iiit controlling means involving operating mechanism comi- Qrising a sector-like piece the periphery of which is suited for so engaging Va part moving with said time controlled mechanism as to be moved therewith, an arm to which said piece is pivotally attached, potentially aci tive means urging movement of lsaid arm away from a position Where said piece may be rotated. in one direction by engagement of the periphery thereof with said time controlled part, potentially active means for rotating said piece in the opposite direction, means tor varying the extent of permitted rotation oi said piece in said second named direction, means i'or abnormally condition- Y ing an electric circuit by rotation of said piece inA said opposite v`direction to a predetermined position, mechanism comprising `means for applying to said arm a tendency for movement such as will carry said piece toward the aforesaid time controlled part, said last named means arranged `for actuation by theelectromagnetically responsive Vparts ofsaid marking mechanisms4 and for alternative adjustability relative to said parts whereby one adjustment will condition said means for causing movement o'f `said arm iii said first named direction whenever any one of said parts has moved in response to magnetization of its associated controlling electromagnet, and another adjustment Will condition said means for causing such movement of said arm whenever any one of 1nechanisms,--circuit controlling means in-V volving operating mechanism comprising a sector-like piece the periphery of which is suited for so engaging a part moving with said time controlled mechanism as to be moved therewith, an arm to which said piece is pivotally attached, potentially active means urging movement ot' said arm away from a position where said piece may be rotated in one direction by engagement ot the periphery thereoi with said time controlledl part, potentially active means for rotating said piece in the opposite direction, means tor varying the extent ot permitted rotation of said piece in said second named direction, means for abnormally conditioning an electric circuit by rotation ot said piece vin said opposite direction to a predetermined position, mechanism comprising means arranged for actuation by any one of said independently operable mechanisms for applying to said arm a tendency 'for movement thereof such as will carry said piece toward the aforesaid time controlled part,

and means for varying the extent of the movement which may be imparted to said arm by said means.

Q3. In a signal instrument having a time controlled mechanismY and a signal responsive mechanism,-circuit controlling means involving operating mechanism comprising a sector-like piece the periphery of which is suited for so engaging a part moving with said time controlled mechanism las to be moved therewith, an arm to which said piece is pivotally attached, potentially active means urging movement of said arm away from a position where said piece may be rotated in one direction by engagement ot the periphery thcreot with said time controlled part, potentially active means for rotating said piece in the opposite direction, means for varying the extent of permitted rotation oit said piece in said second named direction, means for abnormally conditioning an electric circuit by rotation ot' said piece in said opposite direction to a predetermined position, and mechanism comprising means arranged or actuation by said signal responsive mechanism for applying to said arm a tendency tor movement thereof such as will carry said piece toward the aforesaid time controlled part.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, this 1l day of March, 1925.

GEORGE ERNEST KING. 

